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coming off anti-depressants

I've been on anti-depressents for a year now.

Firstly I was on:
10mg Citalapram, then
20mg citalapram, then
15mg mitarzapine, then
30mg mitarzapine, then
45mg mitarzapine.

I feel worse now than i did a year ago ... so i'm going to the doctors today to request that i come off the medication slowly, as i think it's made me worse than better.

i've just had enough and i want to start dealing with this without medical meddling.

has anyone else had a positive experience from coming off medication?

Reply 1

ßlαcksωαn

17

Are you in therapy too?

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

OP

i was in counselling, but i'm having a break from it.

i've been refered to a pscyciatrist ... but i'm not heard anything about an appointment yet.

Reply 3

ßlαcksωαn

17

Anonymous

i was in counselling, but i'm having a break from it.

i've been refered to a pscyciatrist ... but i'm not heard anything about an appointment yet.

counselling is pretty much **** and useless. I recommend you get onto that psychiatrist. Sometimes I think meds are just an easy way out for who ever prescribed you them. Well that also depends on why you are depressed...

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

it's mainly linked to loneliness and was triggered when i stupidly dropped out of university over a girl.

i'm now back at a different university but i'm still not over what happened.

Reply 5

River85

17

I was in a similar situation a few years back. I'd been unwell for a coupe of years, eventually was put on Citalopram and did have a small improvement. I then started getting quite bad anxiety. By then I had a psychiatrist who increased my anti-seizre medication (as it's also a mood stabiliser). I was eventually taken off the Citalopram and felt MUCH better.

If you aren't feeling any benefit from then, then perhaps it's best to change or come off the completely. Obviously though, only under medical supervision. Hopefully once you get an appointment from a psychiatrist things will improve as they will ahve a greater knowledge of meds.

Take care, I really do sympathise. If you want to chat then send me a PM.

Reply 6

Anonymous #2

Ok, i have no experience with thos particular meds (i take different ones) but my mum has been on Citalopram for a while now and other things.... (the next bit is her words)

"I'm down from 40mg a day to 10mg a day i've reduced it over the period of eight months and i'll be halving the dose again in about another month and i've felt great. You can do it, and when you're feeling bad even on the meds, its time to come off."

I know its difficult, but it does get easier. Obviously i dont know your situation, but just keep your head up and if you ever want to talk, there are always people here to listen (me included).

Good luck xxx

Reply 7

Anonymous #3

I took myself of my antidepressants, i was on venlafaxine.
I just one day stopped taking them, the withdrawal was killer, but not completely unbearable. It takes a few weeks for your body to get used to it and now about 2 months after going cold turkey, I feel mostly back to normal.

And I'm glad I'm off them!!

Reply 8

River85

17

Thanks

. I'd just like to give a warning not to come off anti-depressants without consulting a doctor.

One benefit you may find with seeing a psychiatrist is that they can actually give you a proper diagnosis. Gps are overstretched and often don't know enough about mental illness, including depression. It's a complicated issue, even psychiatrists don't entirely agree on diagnosis' (I had to go through two psychiatrists before I got a proper diagnosis).

I have bipolar II by the way, which is why the Citalopram (when taken withut a modd stabiliser) didn't help.

Seeing a psychiatrist will help you look at things, in detail. If you aren't on anti-depressants then it can help you to look at things with a fresh start/not being on meds. As they could confuse things. But, again, always be cautious when coming off them.

Take care, and sorry for any typos. My keyboard is playing up.

Reply 9

Anonymous #2

I understand the wanting to come of them completely, but in my experience its a bad idea.

When mum stopped taking her Citalopram altogether she had awful withdrawal, and nearly killed herself. She thought she was fine. Everyone around her could see that she wasnt.

I take fluvoxatine and decided a couple of months ago that i'd stop taking it. I felt awful, i didnt know what was going on with me, i couldnt control my mood, my thoughts anything. Ended up collapsing in the middle of a shopping center crying and screaming and had to be carried out by my mums friend.

I understand wanting to come of the meds (i hate the fact that i cant be happy without taking that little pill each evening) but you have to do it slowly and sensibly otherwise the problems will just come straight back.

Reply 10

ßlαcksωαn

17

Anonymous

it's mainly linked to loneliness and was triggered when i stupidly dropped out of university over a girl.

i'm now back at a different university but i'm still not over what happened.

I just wanna say "awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" and :hugs:

and awwwwwwww and more :hugs:

Reply 11

Renal

17

You're on the maximum dose of a second line antidepressant, you're still depressed and you think you're going to be fine once you stop taking the tablets?

You must be withdrawn, especially at that dose, over four or five weeks. I would very strongly suggest that you do not stop taking your meds without medical supervision - preferably a psychiatrist rather than a GP.

Reply 12

Anonymous #1

OP

i'm not proposing cold turkey from 45mg mitarzapine.

i'm going to propose staging me off them over a month or so.

i understand my depression alot more than when i went onto medication ... and i simply don't feel they are helping.

thanks for all the kind words as well!

Reply 13

River85

17

Anonymous

i'm not proposing cold turkey from 45mg mitarzapine.

i'm going to propose staging me off them over a month or so.

i understand my depression alot more than when i went onto medication ... and i simply don't feel they are helping.

thanks for all the kind words as well!

Yes, I knew you were wise enough not to go cold turkey, but felt I had to say it just in case. It was a general comment to anyone reading this.

Understanding your depression, gaining that self awareness, is the first step to recovery.

Take care

Reply 14

~ Purple Rose ~

19

If you have only been on those two anti-depressants it might be worth talking to your doctor about trying another one. They work differently for everyone and is often a case of trial and error to find one that works.
Don't try coming off the medication without discussing it with your doctor as it needs to be reduced slowly to avoid side affects.

Reply 15

zmjafflatus

a year ago,i felt very very blue..after i read a book by 森田正马，a japannese psychologist.he suggets living as usual,not caring to much.let it be is the main opinion of him .you can try his books ,i dont believe in medicins..

Reply 16

Ayla Phoenix

11

It may even take more than a month to come off them properly, and you're likely to suffer from withdrawals even if you do ease off. Please do this in consultation with a psychiatrist or your GP - they're probably going to give you the best advice for this situation.
Good luck with your recovery though - I'm more in the personality disorder cluster though (Borderline personality disorder with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder [not the same as OCD]), but I get where you're coming from.

Reply 17

River85

17

In terms of books I've been reading

Jan Scott's "Coping With Mood Swings". This was recommended to me by my old psychiatist. It teaches Cognitive Behavioural therapy techniques to deal with depression, bipolar disorder and borderline pesonality disorder. I found it was of only slight benefit though.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Overcoming-Mood-Swings-Jan-Scott/dp/1841190179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206021341&sr=8-1

There's also: -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Happiness-Handbook-Living/dp/0340750154

Whilst not dealing with deperssion and therapy as such, it does give a good overview of acheiveing happiness/examining the concept of happiness.

These are just suggestions. You should still consult medical professionals though, there will be an underlying reason to depression (reaction to stress, neuro-bioigicall reasons) and this should be examined first.

Reply 18

Anonymous #1

OP

ok, went to the doctors.

he really listened to me and he said that obviously it was up to me.

the plan is to go onto 30mg for two weeks, 15mg for two weeks, then nothing. With appointments with him every two weeks.

Reply 19

River85

17

Excellent. Good luck

coming off anti-depressants

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